Test Bench: Oberton ND45 Pro Sound Compression Driver

For this Voice Coil Test Bench, Vance Dickason characterized the ND45 compression driver from Oberton, which has been in development for some time, and is an improved version of the company's previous ND2545 design. The ND45 was submitted along with the H-960 1" throat PBT-PET 90x 60º constant directivity horn. The ND45 has a 44 mm (1.75”) diameter two-layer voice coil wound with aluminum wire wound onto a Kapton former driving a polyester sandwich diaphragm and vented surround, with the entire assembly being field replaceable. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, September 2020.

This is certainly a very heterogeneous edition of Voice Coil. It features a special report about manufacturing in Vietnam, complete with a directory and a list of trade shows. Igor Levitsky returns to offer valuable details about the latest Radian Audio Engineering LT2/LT6 Ribbon Planar transducers. James Croft reviews a "Venting System for Vehicle Speaker Assembly patent," recently granted to Harman. And, Vance Dickason characterizes the ND45 1" compression driver from Oberton, and the TW29TXN-B-4 TeXtreme diaphragm tweeter from SB Acoustics' Satori line. Voice Coil September 2020 is now available online and in print.

Oberton has announced the company's latest 1-inch exist high neodymium frequency compression driver. The ND45 is an improved version of the company's ND2545 model, now incorporating a new phase plug, new dome with vented suspension and copper inductance ring, all aiming to improve its sound characteristics and ensure very low distortion at high sound levels. As Oberton highlights, the smooth impedance response of the ND45 in the crossover region will ensure perfect results with passive crossovers.

For some years, Oberton has been conducting efforts in the development of a new composite fiber diaphragm, combining a low relative weight and a high damping factor as in beryllium, with mechanical characteristics similar to titanium. The article details the comparative study that took place directly within the research conducted by the famous loudspeaker manufacturer from Bulgaria. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, May 2020.

In this very strong edition of Voice Coil, focused on up-to-date topics for loudspeaker professionals, we discuss the industry's Asian supply chain, how a new carbon composite dome compares with Beryllium and Titanium products, and James Croft reviews a recent electrostatic loudspeaker (ESL) patent. Vance Dickason focuses his attention on two innovations coming from Eminence, in two extreme product categories. The new Eminence NSW4018-8 18" Tour Grade Woofer, and the new N314X 1.4" compression driver, which is the first to use TeXtreme composite material for the diaphragm. Download your copy now!

This article focuses on another pro sound OEM new to Voice Coil’s Test Bench, Oberton of Bulgaria. For this characterization, Oberton supplied the recently released ND72CT/HB 1.4" compression driver along with the H-1464 1.4” cast aluminum 60° × 40° constant directivity horn. The ND72 has two iterations available - a cotton composite diaphragm with polycotton surround - The ND72CT - and an alternative dome, named the Hybrid Dome, using a combination of carbon composite diaphragm with a center cotton composite “patch” that reduces break-up modes - the ND72HB. This article was originally published in Voice Coil, January 2020.

Voice Coil January 2020 is now available in print and digital. This first edition of 2020 includes two valuable directories of headphone and headphone parts vendors. In Acoustic Patents, James Croft reviews two different ported tweeter design patents awarded to the same inventor. And Vance Dickason welcomes two new companies - LaVoce from Italy and Oberton from Bulgaria - to Test Bench. LaVoce submitted the 1” DF10.172K compression driver, while Oberton sent the ND72CT/HB 1.4” Hybrid Dome compression driver.

Oberton Professional Loudspeakers celebrated 30 years in business at the 2019 Prolight+Sound show in Frankfurt. Oberton used the opportunity to promote its latest product catalog and introduced several new models, including the 10NHCX and the 15H4CX72, new 10" and 15" members of the company's extended range of coaxial drivers; the new 18NSW700, a high-power 18" neodymium woofer with low Mms; and two new 2" and 1,5" neodymium compression drivers with 4" voice coils, the NDC72-16 and ND100-16. VC

Oberton recently introduced new neodymium and ferrite compression drivers, two impressive 12” and 15” neodymium midbass units for multi-way PA speakers, and the new 15HCX coaxial transducer, designed for use in compact reflex enclosures and stage monitors. A great set of new options at reasonable prices, manufactured in Bulgaria.